THE JELLICOE MISSION.

Northern Advocate, 19 August 1919, Page 3

THE JELLICOE MISSION.

OVERSEAS DEFENCES

ANTICIPATING EVENTUALITIES

LOiN'DON, August 17

j\ high naval authority interviewed said that attnoug'h Lord Jellieoe was visiting all one Dominions in an advisory capacity his recommendations oJt the amount of sea-power it was necessary lor Britain to maintain in future eastwunt oi Suez would 'be of paramount importance, because the Admiralty veyarus this region as the next danger zone, although no trouble was anticipated perhaps for a few years, therefore much stronger naval forces were likely to be stationed in Australian and New Zealand waters. Lord Jeiiicoe was known to favour local Dominion naval unjits. His advice would be particularly helpful to the New Zealand Government, which must consider the maximum burden oi expense it was able to bear. The Admiralty's policy would probably be to supplement the Dominion forces with the ships necessary to ensure Empire security in accordance with Lord Jellicoe's report. Lord Jellieoe probably would suggest the formation of an Indian naval unit with a proportion of native officers and men, thus establishing a great Pacific fleet consisting of Indian, South African, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian units capable of operating under a single command. Lord Jellieoe also would recommend the creation of a permanent Imperial Naval Board j on which would be a representative of each Dominion sitting in London dealing with all naval operations. The Board would periodically visit the Dominions and sit with each local Naval Board in Melbourne and Wellington to consider details of the Australian and New Zealand defence. Lord Jellicoe's visit wohld probably result in the provision of a much greater naval force in Canada to protect the long coast lines. It Is anticipated that Lord Jellieoe will favour a greater interchange of officers between the Home and Dominion fleets.—A. and N.Z.